Flash-light.



P. M. BEARD.

FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FIL ED FEB. 21; I911. 1,287,186. Patented Dec. 10, 191.8.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET INVENTOR ATTORN EY WITNESSES P. M. BEARD.

FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. an.

1,287,186. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/ 4. I 1 JK BY M 5m ATTORN EY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnacr M. BEARD, or naanmsnune, KENTUCKY.

FLASH-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed February 27, 1917. Seri a1 No. 151,329. 1

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PERCY M. BEARD, a

. citizen of the United 'States, residing at ing provided with bulbs ent candle powers and being further provided with means whereby the current from and reliable, small,

thebatteries may be directed to either of the bulbs, so that in case of emergency the strong light may be employed, while in other instances a teady light may be obtainedfrorn the smaller-lamp and in which the arrangement of parts is such as to prolong the life of the battery to a very great degree without lessening the efiiciency of the device. v

It is a further object of the invention to produce a flashlight that shall be compact inexpensive to make so that the same may be sold at a comparatively low cost, thoroughly practicable and durable, and easy and convenient to operate.

It is a still further object of the invention to produce a flashlight wherein one or a multiplicity of batteries may be employed so that the same may be readilyconnected in multiple by the adding or taking away of parts comprising the casing, and whereby the current from the single battery or the multiplicity ,of batteries may be readily directed to either of the lamps employed in the flashlight.

I With the above and other-objects in view.

' the improvement resides in the construction,

combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the ing within the'scope of the In the drawings:

. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flashlight constructed in accordance. with the presentinvention, I

Fig. 2 is a' central. vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same,

Fig. 3 is a similar section with of the upper inner battery arranged therein and the remaining batteries removed,

following specification and fallappended claims.

of Breckinr dge I ing a portion" Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the tubular casing, the lamps and reflector being removed,

' Fig. 5 is on the line Fig. 6 ing toward the circuit closer,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 a sectional view approximately 5-5 of Fig.5,

Y of Fig. 6,

being supplemental to the part 10. Each of the tubular members 10 and 11, at the ends thereof, are provided with metallic bands 12, which are provided with rolled threads, and whereby one end of the tubular member 11 may be connected to one end of the tubular member 10, the metallic threaded band on the end of one of the members interengaging with the threads of the metallic band of the other member. The metallic band,

band 12 engaged by a flanged metallic band 14, the flange oflthe said band engaging with the convexed outer face of the lens 15, while arranged between the lens and the said band 14 is the outer flanged edge of the substantially frusto-conical reflector 16. The reflector 16 has arranged thereon lamps 17 and 18 respectively, each provided with the usual contact point 19 and 20 respectively. The lamp 17 is of a greater strength or candle power than the lamp 18 and the contact points 19 and 20 of the'respective lamps, 0

course, projecting through the reflector 16,

and each of the same being engaged by the oflset ends 21 and 22 of contact plates 23 and 2-1 respectively. The plates 23' and 24: are arrangedwithin the casing 10, and the same may be, if desired, enveloped in a wrapping of some insulating materlal. The

conducting plate 23- is of a materially less is a detail enlarged elevation look- 7 indicated by the numerals 10 and 11 respectively, the part 11 ,the casing 10, or the length than the conducting plate 24, and arranged upon the exterior of the casing 10 and connected with the plate 23 is a contact strip 25, while also arranged upon the exterior of the said member 10 is a Second contact strip 26 which is connected with the plate 24.

The circuit closer is indicated by the numeral 29, and comprises a switch member 30- which is constructed of a single piece of spring material having a centrally arranged operating button 31 that has its shank disposed in a slot 32 in the casing 33.- By operating the button 31 the switch member 30 may be brought to engage with either of the contact strips 25 or 26, while the circuit closer is normally retained out of. engagement with either of the said contact strips.

he housing 33 is of metal, and is connected with a contact strip 34 arranged interiorly of the casing 10', and connected with the metallic threaded band'upon the end of the said casing, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The case 10 isof a size to receive two batteries whichare indicated by the numerals 35 and 36 respectively, the carbon 37 of the battery 36 contact with the zinc upon the outer end of the battery 35,

' while the carbon 38 of the battery 35 engages with the conducting member 39 that is con nected with the metallic band 14 at the outer end of the casing 10. 'The conducting member39 is disposed below the contact member 22 which is formed upon the end of the con- 7 other and the outer member to the it is to be understood that each of same having its 44 engaging dicated by the .cated by the numeral 47.

ducting-plate 23 and is insulated therefrom, as indicated by the numeral 40. When the tubular member tery 41 may be arranged therein, and as any desired number member 11, may be connected one with each case 10, the said additional members has arranged therein a battery, and within each of the members 11 is arranged a contact strip 42 which is disposed to engage withthe metallic threaded bands upon the openends of the said members 11;

The numeral 44 designates a metallic cupshaped closure for the outer member 11, the flange provided with threads with the threads upon the outer band of the said member 11, while disposed within the member 44 is a helical spring 45 providing a conductor member between the lower battery and the con act plate 42 in the case 11'.

In order to properly arrange the contacts of the bulbs 17 and 18 with the ofl'set ends 21 and 22 of the conducting lates 23 and .24 respectively, I notch'the reliiactor 16, as innumeral 46, and likewise'I end of the case 10 as indi- When these notches are brought to alias the 00 1M notch the outer ,end 21 of 11 is employed a third bat.

of members, similar to the points of the bulbs 17 and 18 will properly engage with the contact members 21 and 22 of the conducting strips 23 and 24.

The 0 eration is the same as with other lamps of this class, the circuit to the lamp 17 is 'closed by operating the circuit closer to bring the same into engagement with the contact strip 25, which will cause the current to flow from the battery through the member 39, from thence through the metallic ring on the outer end of the case 10, through the reflector and lamp to the contact .19, returning through the conducting strips 22, 23, and 25, switch or circuit closer 30, housing 33, conducting strip 34, through metallic bands on ends of cases 10 and 11, from thence through strip'42, through conducting spring 45 to zinc upon the outer end of the outermost battery, and, of course, from zinc to carbon and from carbon to zinc through the remaining batteries. The lamp 17 is lighted only in cases of emergency when a strong lightis required, the lam '18 being generally lighted when less bri 'the metallic ring on the outer end of the case 10, through lamp 18 and metallic reflector 16, through point 20, through offset conducting plate 24, through strip 26, spring member 30, housing 33. plate 34, metallic rings in the ends of cases 10 and 11, through conducting plate 42. contact spring 45. to the batteries. When the batteries are exhausted the parts of the case are separated, the batteries thrown away and new ones are placed in the case, and no adjustment of the contacts or any ofthe remaining parts is required.

Inorder to retain the circuit closer in a neutral position the spring switch member 30 adiacent the ends thereof is indented to provide outturned spur members 50 which are adapted to be 51-51 in the casing, as iclearly illustrated by the drawings;

Having thus what I claim is:

1. A flash light comprising a casing of nonconducting material, metallic bands at the open ends of said casing, a lens supported by one of said metallic bands and one end of the casing, a metallic reflector having its edges located ing. a pair of electric lamps supported by said reflector, a battery in said casing, a strip coxmecting one end of said battery with the band at the front end of the casing, a pair of spaced strips exteriorly arranged on the casing, a strip connecting one of said strips with the contact point of one of the lamps,

described the invention,

received in depressions between said lens and the cas strip connecting the other lamp with the her spaced strip, a movable contact memr located between the spaced strips and lapted to engage with one or the other of lurality of parts, metallic bands arrangfid Y pon the ends of said parts and detacha ngaging with each other, a metallic bottom on the outermost casing engaging with the 15 outermost band, a plurality of batteries in said, casing in contact with each other, a metallic reflector in the front end of the casing in electric contact with the metallic band at said end, a lamp carried by said reflector, means for connectin one battery to said reflector and means or connecting the contact point of the lamp with the lowermost battery, said means including a series of strips connecting the metallic bands of the different parts of the casing together.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PERCY M. BEARD.

T AVAILABLE (3 

